JAMES Collins has made such an incredible start in the claret and blue of Aston Villa that he now gets mobbed wherever he goes – from the training ground to his local supermarket.

And while the Villa newcomer is delighted with that, after his recent services at the heart of the defence, he admits he does get a bit frustrated – because fans think he is midfielder Steve Sidwell!

The centre-back , who joined Martin O’Neill’s new dream-team from West Ham United just a month ago, is convinced the mix-up comes because the pair are both “Gingers.”

Luckily for fans Collins is not seeing red over the mix-up – instead he finds it hilarious. He said: “I suppose when I came to Villa a lot of people didn’t really know me.

“I had been at West Ham for some time but what with injuries and things had not played that much football so when I signed for Villa I think people were saying ‘James who?’

“Now I am getting recognised more and more around town but I am getting recognised for being Steve Sidwell!

“I was in the shop the other day and these kids were all chanting: “There’s only one Steve Sidwell! It has to be the ginger hair! It has to be because we are both gingers! I do find it amusing!”

Collins, a £6 million purchase from Upton Park, admitted he was enjoying his rise in popularity since moving to the Midlands and turning in good strong defensive performances alongside Richard Dunne. The small matter of heading home the winning goal against Chelsea last week has also added to his acclaim.

“People are starting to recognise me,” he said. “That’s is nice and hopefully I can continue my form now.”

“It is not just in the street that people can’t get enough of Wales international Collins either.

Staff at Villa Park say sales of Villa shirts in the club shop emblazoned with the name Collins are, together with Dunne, currently flying off the shelves so instant a hit have they been with the fans.

John Greenfield, Villa’s Head of Merchandising, said the two new defenders were also the players young fans most want to meet on Thursday when there will be an open training session at Villa Park for the fans.

Greenfield said: “Collins and Dunne are very popular at the moment at Villa Village and, while sales of the shirts have some way to go to replace those of Martin Laursen and Paul McGrath, they are really taking off.”

Of the plaudits being heaped on Collins in recent weeks is that the fan’s favourite is now a replacement for Laursen – Villa’s former “Captain Lionheart” who was forced to hang up his boots last season through injury.

Collins said he was happy to follow in the great man’s footsteps and honoured to be compared to him so soon.

“That’s not daunting for me,” he said. “But it is nice, I came in knowing Martin was a tremendous player and a fans’ favourite for Villa.

“But it’s a quite a good thing really knowing I had someone to strive to and I hope I perform as well as him.”

All the adulation could well continue if Villa’s results progress as they have done in recent weeks and that could mean seeing the name Collins on the back of even more Villa supporters’ shirts this season.

“It will be the first time!” Collins quipped. “ I don’t think anyone’s ever pulled on my shirt before. But this is a great club to be around and I’m enjoying my time here.

“Joining a new club is always a bit daunting. You obviously want to impress. Meeting the boys and the staff you want to make a good impression.

“ Luckily we had a game almost straightaway and I could go straight into that. Luckily I performed well and things went on from there.”

Collins joined on the eve of the recent Blues-Villa derby which also helped him win over his instant army of Villa fans after helping the team to a 1-0 win.

But the ginger warrior admitted, back at his former club, it was his “performance” on the night he put pen to paper on his four-year deal at Villa which really drew attention.

James Collins is the second player at Villa with that name and on the day Collins Senior signed, James Collins Junior – one of Vila’s young academy stars – was playing in a reserve match.

“The day I signed I was chatting to some of the guys at West Ham and they were saying I was in the reserves,” Collins said. “Luckily for me I wasn’t!”